This August, Australia’s most iconic train will be celebrating 95 years of outback adventures.
The legend of The Ghan stems from the 1930s when the first Afghan cameleers arrived in Australia and blazed a permanent trail into the Red Centre. This legendary train continues to evoke a frontier spirit, a romantic connection to the land, and travelling on it is a moving and unforgettable life experience. Over the past 95 years, the on-board experience has evolved from a basic passenger service to an all-inclusive multi-day experiential journey, showcasing regional food and wine and sharing remote parts of Australia with keen travellers. The journey’s most recent evolution is the introduction of Gold Premium, a new style of rail travel.
“The Ghan is more than a train journey. It’s an all-inclusive experience that takes guests to the heart of Australia and showcases the incredible regions the legend travels through,” says David Donald, Executive General Manager of Rail at Journey Beyond. “We’re proud to continue The Ghan’s legacy and are excited to celebrate this momentous occasion with guests.”
Today, The Ghan travels between Darwin and Adelaide, taking guests on an epic adventure traversing the Australian continent and through the Red Centre, a breathtaking region of striking scenery, desert and mountains and some of Aboriginal Australia's most sacred sites. During the three day journey (four days for The Ghan Expedition), guests will travel in comfort in The Ghan’s Gold, Gold Premium or Platinum carriages, enjoying incredible views from the train’s dining and lounge cars while experiencing a stunning menu of food and drink from a talented on board team. Each journey’s Off Train Experiences add an extra dimension to the journey, with guests able to experience an open air dinner at the Alice Springs Telegraph Station, and optional upgrades such as a spectacular visit to Uluru and scenic flights over the Painted Hills.*
The History of The Ghan
On 4th August 1930, an excited crowd gathered at the Adelaide Railway Station to farewell The Ghan on its inaugural journey. Originally dubbed the Afghan Express, The Ghan train was named for the pioneering cameleers and later shortened to the name it is today, ‘The Ghan.’
The train carried more than 100 passengers and supplies bound for the remote town of Stuart, later to be called Alice Springs. Two days later, its historic journey was complete. The train was steam hauled, and the service had to contend with extreme conditions including flash flooding and intense heat. As such, it was often irregular. Legend has it The Old Ghan was once stranded for two weeks in one spot and the engine driver shot wild goats to feed his passengers. This is a far cry from the epicurean adventure that The Ghan has become.
It was always intended for The Ghan to travel from Adelaide through to the Northern Territory city of Darwin. It just took a lot longer for the last section of rail to be completed. In 2004, the Alice Springs to Darwin railway line was finally finished, with The Ghan embarking on its first journey all the way to Darwin on 1st February, 2004.
Today, The Ghan delivers so much more than an extended train ride. It promises access to parts of Australia no other holiday can come close to – the perfect balance of comfort and adventure, confirming that the best way to see Australia is by train. The average journey on The Ghan:
Your average return rail journey includes approximately:
A three-day, two-night, all-inclusive journey on The Ghan is from AUD $2,590 (approx. £1,320) with Wednesday and Sunday departures between March and November 2025 for travel from Adelaide to Darwin, and Wednesday only departures for travel from Darwin to Adelaide between March and November.
A four-day, three-night, all-inclusive journey on The Ghan Expedition is from AUD $3,790 (approx. £1,930), with Wednesday and Saturday departures from April – October. Prices are for 2025 travel.
